Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura.
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Sakura looked groggily at her math papers. Having to make up 4 months of classes is torture. Sakura groaned as she looked at the math equations that she could've easily misunderstood for Greek. Sakura wondered why math had to be such an important part of a person's knowledge.
Sakura held the packet in her hand. It was about 10 pages thick. It was only one of the many she had to do. Math was hard enough for her before her 4-month absence. Now, she was doomed. There was no other way to put it. Sakura left that aside and started on her history.
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"Sakura-chan?" A voice spoke softly. Sakura forcefully opened her eyelids to see her best friend's hand waving in front of her face. Behind Tomoyo, the rays of sunlight shone in the room.
"I see you Tomoyo-chan." Sakura replied. Tomoyo grinned.
"Good. I was almost about to call your onii-chan (older brother) as ask for some tips on how to wake you up." Tomoyo replied. Sakura groaned as she looked around at her surroundings. She wasn't in bed. Her arms were crossed in front of her, leaning on the desk. Under her arms were the a few uncompleted math packets. Sakura sighed and wished she'd never been put in the hospital in the first place.
Thinking of the hospital, Sakura placed her hand over her chest. She could feel the heart pumping blood to her body, not her heart, someone else's. Sakura sadly smiled and silently thanked whomever it was that let her survive in this world.
"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo said as she waved her hand over Sakura's face once more. Her best friend seemed to like to zone out today.
"Gomen (I'm sorry) Tomoyo-chan. I can't concentrate on anything." Sakura replied. Tomoyo's face filled with concern.
"Do you think it's a side effect of the surgery?" Tomoyo asked. The last thing needed were complications after her surgery.
"Iie (no). Just plain old stress." Sakura replied rubbing her temples.
"It's a good thing you have afternoon classes today." Tomoyo remarked. Sakura nodded.
"Yea. Thank kami-sama (God)." Sakura responded as she smiled at her best friend. Tomoyo smiled back as she headed towards the kitchen.
"What do you want for breakfast?" Tomoyo called out. Sakura sat at her desk and pondered on it for a second and then quickly replied.
"Food."
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Sakura exited her last class of the day to see Syaoran waiting for her on one of the benches. She smiled. He kept his promise. She walked over to him.
"Is this seat taken?" Sakura asked. Syaoran turned to see Sakura's face beaming down on him.
"Nope. Go right on ahead." He replied as she sat down next to him. The sounds of teenagers laughing and giggling were heard but not a sound was made near them. Sakura sighed at the silence. He seemed to be more distant today. Something must be troubling him. Sakura thought about it for a while and then pulled out one of her math packets. Today, she received a couple more.
Syaoran looked over to see a packet of math problems sitting on Sakura's lap. She seemed to not be quite fond of the subject.
"Troubles in math?" Syaoran questioned.
"Hoe ... I hate this subject." Sakura replied.
"Wow, this is a lot of work for a day." Syaoran spoke glancing at the packet's size.
"I was in the hospital for weeks. This is just one of the packets of a week that I missed." Sakura responded. Syaoran then remembered about her being hospitalized.
"How long were you there for?" Syaoran asked.
"4 long and torturous months." Sakura replied groaning.
"That bad?"
"I couldn't stand being in the hospital. Not like I didn't like anyone there or anything. I just need to roam free in-"
"The wild?" Syaoran teased. Sakura pouted and attempted a glare at Syaoran.
"Iie (no). I mean go to occasional places like the park, do cartwheels on the balance beam and stuff, not stay in a stuffy hospital not being able to do anything." Sakura spoke.
"Gymnast?"
"I guess you could say that." Sakura replied.
"Why were you in the hospital?" Syaoran asked.
"Long story." Sakura replied as she got up and held her hand out to Syaoran.
"Come on Li-kun. I have a LOT of work to make up and sitting here won't help anything." Sakura spoke as Syaoran placed his hand on hers and got up. It almost seemed as if she was trying to avoid the reason she was in the hospital but he ignored it.
"So, when am I ever going to hear this long story?" Syaoran asked. Sakura looked at him and smiled.
"As soon as I make up for all the work that was caused by the long story." Sakura replied walking slower. Her backpack was heavy and it caused for her to drag behind. Syaoran noticed this and quickly slipped the backpack off of her small petite body and placed it on his own back.
"I can't let you hold my bag!" Sakura protested as she reached for it. Syaoran evaded her attempt and started to run down the path. Looking behind him, he saw Sakura was gone and he stopped. His amber eyes searched for a spec of emerald, but it was not to be seen. Syaoran sighed and turned face front again to see Sakura's smiling face. Syaoran jumped back in surprise placing his hand over his throbbing chest.
"Did I scare you?" Sakura asked innocently placing her hand on Syaoran's back.
"You surprised me." Syaoran replied as he turned around so that he was face to face with Sakura. Her emerald eyes seemed to have a spell of their own, drawing Syaoran closer to her. Sakura looked at her watch seeing how late it was and lightly smacked Syaoran on the head.
"Do you NOT remember the work that I have to make up?!?!?!" Sakura shouted as she started to pull on her backpack that was on Syaoran's back.
"Gomen (I'm sorry). But I'm holding the backpack." Syaoran replied as they started to head towards Sakura's dorm room, again.
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A week passed by and Sakura and Syaoran became closer friends. There was never a time where Sakura couldn't get him to laugh. Syaoran's heart seemed to mend a little each time he met her.
Each and every day proved that Syaoran never broke his promise. He was always there under the petal less Sakura tree waiting for her (winter). Sakura hurried out of her class and went there. Strangely, Syaoran wasn't there. Her thought concentration broke as the tune 'Catch You, Catch Me' played. Sakura took her cell out of her phone and picked it up.
"Moshi moshi (how Japanese people say hi on the phone)."
"Sakura-san?" A male voice spoke.
"Eriol-kun?" Sakura asked.
"Hai (yes)."
"Oh ... why are you calling me?" Sakura questioned.
"You might already know that Syaoran's not there at your university. I'm sorry to say but ..."
"But what?" Sakura asked. Did something happen to him? Did he go somewhere?
"Syaoran's sick right now, which is a huge rarity for Syaoran but I just want you do know that he can't be there ..." Eriol hesitated. Sakura noticed this.
"Is something else wrong?"
"Ano (um) ... Could you come here? For the past half hour, I've been keeping Syaoran away from the door."
"Does Syaoran have somewhere he needs to get to?" Sakura asked. Eriol wanted to smack himself in the head right then and there. Sometimes she was a little too dense.
"Sakura-san, Syaoran's trying to get to you. He wants to keep his promise. This whole Li family pride thing-" Eriol spoke on but Sakura only heard the first 2 sentences. Even though he was sick, he wanted to keep his promise to her. Sakura felt extremely touched and interrupted Eriol's self talk.
"I'll be there Eriol-kun." Sakura spoke quickly as she already started to dash towards the dorm.
"Arigatou (thanks) Sakura-san." Eriol responded as the he heard the dial tone knowing that Sakura was on her way. Eriol walked over to the bed. There lay his best friend, weak and tired. Eriol silently chuckled. The great Li Syaoran had to get sick sometime though it probably wouldn't have happened if Syaoran hadn't lost the bet that made him stand on the roof for a couple of hours in the snow last night...
Eriol chuckled and then thought and wondered how him and Yamazaki got Syaoran to comply...
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Sakura slightly shivered as she opened the door to the dormitory. She started to walk towards the stair well. Suddenly, someone blocked her way. Sakura groaned. She really needed to get to Syaoran and having Kyoji in her way wasn't going to help at all.
"Well well. What do we have here? Sakura Kinomoto ... had to see me again?" Kyoji spoke. Sakura was absolutely couldn't believe how big his ego could get.
"I'm here to see a friend of mine, Tatsuya-san." Sakura said as she tired to push her way through however, she was prevented from doing so.
"This is the guy's dorm building. Going to see that asshole?" Kyoji asked referring to Syaoran. Sakura's anger started to grow but she pushed it aside the best she could.
"You're the only asshole I see." Sakura replied. Kyoji smirked.
"Well obviously your pretty eyes can't see properly anymore." Kyoji spoke as he stepped closer to Sakura. Sakura backed up until she felt the cold wall on her back. Kyoji took this opportunity and immediately seized her hands, immobilizing them.
"Her eyes work just fine." A voice spoke. Kyoji turned around to see Li Syaoran placing his hand on the wall while walking towards them. Sakura's eyes started to water. He shouldn't be out of bed when he was sick, especially because of her. Kyoji laughed.
"Limping already? I thought that didn't happen till you were about 50." Kyoji spoke. Sakura tried to take this opportunity to pull away but his grip was as strong as ever. Kyoji turned his head so he was face to face with Sakura.
"Tried to escape again? Give up. You're mine." Kyoji remarked as he grasped Sakura's wrist tightly. She cried out in agony slowly kneeling to the floor. Syaoran charged as fast as he could in his state and punched Kyoji, right in his face. Kyoji fell and Sakura was released. Sakura started to sob as Syaoran knelt down next to her and held her.
"Don't worry." Syaoran softly whispered as Sakura calmed down. Sakura looked over at the pale Syaoran and placed a hand on his forehead. He was burning up! Sakura tried her best to lift Syaoran up, but it wouldn't work. Sakura slumped to the floor and started to sob again. He had to get medical attention fast. He saved her from Tatsuya and she couldn't help him.
"Sakura-san!" Eriol shouted. Sakura lifted her head up to see Eriol running down the hall.
"Eriol-kun!" Sakura yelled. Eriol knelt next to Sakura and noticed Kyoji's unconscious body lying on the ground. Then he shifted his attention to Syaoran who was breathing heavily.
"We have to get him somewhere Eriol-kun!" Sakura pleaded. Eriol nodded as he placed Syaoran on his back.
"He'll be fine in my dorm room. I'm studying to be a doctor, remember?" Eriol smiled as he headed up the steps while Sakura made sure that Syaoran wasn't going to fall off.
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For the past 9 hours, Sakura was at Syaoran's bedside waiting for his fever to go down. Eriol came in to check up on him once in a while, but Sakura wouldn't budge. She told him that she would stay as long as she needed to.
Sakura smiled as she changed the cold cloth. His fever slowly was going down, about a degree every 3 hours.
"Aya." Syaoran moaned. Sakura sat there in curiosity. Every few minutes Syaoran would say the name Aya. Who was she? How important was she to him? Questions raced on inside her head but she pushed it aside and focused on one main objective, to make Syaoran feel better.
"Why did you have to leave me, Aya?" Syaoran softly spoke in ragged breaths. Sakura noticed a tiny teardrop fall down his face.
"Aya is watching over you." Sakura whispered back stroking his hair away from his face. Syaoran's breaths became more normal. Sakura sighed with relief as a knock was heard.
"Come in." Sakura replied as two silhouettes entered.
"How's he doing?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura turned to see her best friend.
"Tomoyo-chan! What are you doing here?" Sakura asked.
"I could ask you the same exact question. What happened?" Tomoyo replied.
"Long story. Don't feel like talking about it right now." Sakura spoke keeping her eyes on Syaoran. Tomoyo noticed her best friend's sadness and immediately turned to Eriol for guidance.
"How is he, Eriol?" Tomoyo asked.
"He's doing better. He should be perfectly fine in a couple of days." Eriol whispered softly. Tomoyo sighed. He needed to get better faster than that.
"Aya." Syaoran spoke again. Eriol looked at his cousin sadly. It's still hurting him. Inside and out. Syaoran had told him earlier about his dream with Aya. Syaoran felt insecure about the dream, still denying that it was real. Eriol felt differently about the situation. He felt that it was Aya telling Syaoran. Eriol knew that he has to try his best to convince Syaoran, or just look for Syaoran's soul mate.
"Eriol-kun, who's Aya?" Sakura asked.
"Syaoran's fiancée." Eriol replied. Sakura look surprised. He had a fiancée and she didn't know? Sakura silently squealed with excitement. She couldn't wait to get to know her. For Li-kun to go and propose to a girl, she must be really special! But one thing nagged at her brain ... why was Syaoran calling out for her, like ... she was unreachable?
"So, when can I meet her?" Sakura asked.
"Let me rephrase my boyfriend's statement. Aya is Syaoran's recently deceased fiancée." Tomoyo spoke softly. Sakura's eyes widened. No wonder he called out for her, she was with her mother in the sky.
"I guess I wasn't lying when I told him that she was watching over him." Sakura spoke in an almost inaudible whisper. A teardrop fell from her face. To lose family, someone you've been taught to love unconditionally just wasn't the same as losing someone that you learned to love, all on your own.
Sakura quickly wiped her tear. It sounded like a love story she would watch on television, except, it was real life. Syaoran was suffering ... the pain of love. It brings many joys ... but sorrow comes as well.
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Syaoran's eyes opened to be blinded by the rays of the sun. Syaoran turned his head to see Sakura's arms crossed on the bed, knees on the ground, sleeping peacefully. He slowly sat up and slid out of the bed, from the opposite side of Sakura. Walking to the door, he opened it to meet face to face with Eriol. He immediately jumped back in surprise.
"What the hell?" Syaoran spoke as he placed his hand over his rapid beating chest. Eriol smiled apologetically.
"Sorry man. Didn't know you were coming." Eriol replied. His gaze then focused on the sleeping Sakura.
"She missed her classes yesterday and is missing her morning classes right now because of you, you know." Eriol spoke as he stared at his watch.
"What do you mean?"
"Remember anything from the last time you were fully awake?" Eriol asked. Syaoran sat in thought and then remembered when he protected Sakura from Kyoji and then collapsed onto the ground.
"That was two days ago?" Syaoran questioned. It seemed like it had happened only a few hours ago.
"Hai. Well, you had a really high fever, which me and Yamazaki are very sorry for, and Sakura refused to leave your side saying she wouldn't budge until you got better, so she could thank you properly." Eriol answered looking over to Sakura. Sakura was still in the position Syaoran found her in, sleeping soundlessly. Syaoran glared at Eriol.
"This is all your fault you know." Syaoran spoke harshly. Eriol, being very used to this behavior of his, wasn't intimidated at all.
"It was Yamazaki who chose your punishment, not me. I'm still surprised that you stood out there like you were told to." Eriol replied calmly.
"So am I." Syaoran responded. His head hurt, a lot.
"She really should be getting to her classes." Eriol remarked checking his watch again.
"Just let her rest." Syaoran replied as he walked over to Sakura. He gently shook her but she didn't even stir. Sighing, he scooped her up in his arms, finding she's incredibly light, and placed her on his bed. Placing the covers over her body, he turned around and headed towards the kitchen in search of food.
Eriol, who had seen the whole thing, smirked. This was the beginning of love ... between his heartbroken cousin and his girlfriend's best friend.
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"HOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Sakura screamed as she stared at the alarm clock. It said 7 o'clock. She jumped out of bed and hurried over at the closet and then seemed to realize that that wasn't her alarm clock, or her bed, and the clothes in the closet weren't hers.
"You have a powerful scream, you know." Syaoran spoke as he covered his ears. Sakura's eyes widened as she ran up to Syaoran, holding him in an embrace. Syaoran smiled as he placed his arms around her back. Sakura looked up to him and pouted, breaking their hug.
"You had me worried sick!" Sakura scolded lightly. Syaoran tried his best to stop laughing but couldn't help it. Sakura smiled. He was his regular self again.
"HOE! I'm really late for class!" Sakura yelled as she tried to bolt out the door but Syaoran's arms prevented her from doing so. Sakura looked up at Syaoran.
"I really need to get to school." Sakura stated. Syaoran chuckled.
"Look out the window Sakura." He responded. Sakura turned her view to Syaoran's window to realize that it was 7 at night, not morning. Sakura looked at Syaoran who was laughing.
"It's a mistake anyone could have made." Sakura claimed crossing her arms across her chest. Syaoran began to laugh once more.
"Only you, Sakura, only you." Syaoran remarked earning himself a playful slap on his shoulder. Syaoran rubbed the injured area slowly pretending to be in pain. Sakura believe him to really be in pain and had a concerned look on her face.
"Are you okay? I didn't think I hit that hard." Sakura spoke as she placed her small hand over his shoulder. Syaoran slowly took his hand and wrapped it around her wrist, putting it on her lap.
"I was just kidding. It doesn't hurt." Syaoran responded smiling. Sakura made a lopsided frown.
"Darn. I thought I was getting stronger." She remarked. Syaoran laughed. Being around Sakura seemed to make all of his problems ... disappear.
"Well, I got to go! Still have to finish those awful math packets!" Sakura spoke as she headed out the door. Syaoran watched Sakura's figure disappear from his sight ... and then seeing her face pop back through his doorway.
"Oh yeah. Before I forget. Arigatou for two days ago!" Sakura remarked bowing to Syaoran. Syaoran smiled.
"No problem." He replied as Sakura plastered a smile on her face and left the room.
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"Hey Syaoran! Telephone!" Eriol shouted. Syaoran picked up the phone in his room (Eriol's former room ... Eriol and Yamazaki share a room now) wondering who would know that he was with Eriol.
"Hello?"
"Xiao Lang!" He heard 4 squealing female voices. Syaoran sighed automatically knowing exactly who called him.
"Your husbands still feeding you sugar?" Syaoran asked. He quickly pulled the phone away from his ear and could still clearly hear the protests being yelled over the phone.
"It was a joke!" Syaoran shouted into the phone. The four protesters started to lower their voices.
"So, who's talking to me first?" Syaoran asked. It always seemed that whenever his sisters called him, they were all on the phone rather than just one of them call him at a time.
"I am." Fuutie spoke.
"Fuutie .. is that you?" Syaoran asked. His older sister's voice seemed to be more hoarse.
"It is."
"Are you feeling okay?" Syaoran asked with concern.
"I'm fine. Your employees however seem to take me as a co-worker rather than the substitute CEO. Let's just say, I've fired almost a quarter of your employees." Fuutie replied. Syaoran made a mental reminder to himself to never let Fuutie be his substitute.
"You sound a lot more energetic from that sulky mood you were in over here. What caused the sudden change?" Fuutie asked. Syaoran couldn't reply. Honestly, he never realized his mood change. So what caused it wouldn't be a question he could answer.
"I really honestly don't know." Syaoran replied. As much as Fuutie wanted to say, 'It's a girl, isn't it', it still probably wasn't the best of times to bring up such a topic.
"Tell me when you do know, okay?" Fuutie requested.
"If I ever know." Syaoran replied.
"You will. Well, I got to go! The rest still want to talk to you!" Fuutie spoke cheerfully as she hung up and then Feimei started to talk to her little brother.
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A month has passed since his fiancée's death ... a whole month. Syaoran felt more moody then on other days. He already told Sakura in advance that he wouldn't be able to pick her up today. It was just one of those days ...
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Sakura frowned. Li-kun told her that he couldn't pick her up today. He didn't tell her why though. Sakura sat on the bench that Syaoran would usually sit on. She put her elbow on her knee and rested her chin on her hand. What could cause Li-kun to not want to come? ... was it her? ... or maybe ... Aya?
"Sakura-chan!" Sakura snapped out of her thoughts to see her best friend heading in her direction.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura shouted as she waved at the nearing figure.
"Sakura-chan, do you have any more packets to make up?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura groaned.
"Don't remind me." Sakura spoke. Tomoyo placed a finger to her lips.
"Let's go shopping!" Tomoyo remarked gleefully.
"Hoe? But I have to-"
"You can do it some other time! The expression on your face is all dull ... and the cure for your dullness is shopping!" Tomoyo replied. Sakura smiled. She hadn't gone shopping in a while.
"Sure." Sakura responded as they headed towards Tomoyo's car.
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"Sakura-chan! YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS ON!!!!!!" Tomoyo squealed as she added the dress to the outfits piling up on her arm for Sakura to try on.
"Hoe ... Tomoyo-chan ... Isn't this a bit much?" Sakura asked. Tomoyo had already handed Sakura hundreds of outfits in the other stores ... her being the victim of Tomoyo's shopping.
"Nonsense! Come on! Try it on!" Tomoyo said as she pushed Sakura into the changing room. Sakura sighed as she began to change.
"Are you done yet?" Tomoyo asked impatiently. Sakura opened the door to the changing room and walked out.
"KAWAII!!!!!!!!!!!" Tomoyo squealed. The dress was a light pink strapless with little cherry blossom designs running down it. The people around the dressing rooms looked at Tomoyo strangely as Sakura just rolled her eyes. This was a normal shopping trip with her best friend.
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Sakura collapsed onto the couch. Finally, back home. She thought she would've never left the mall. Six straight hours of changing clothes. Sakura looked at the mail she received and flipped through it.
"Junk ... Junk ... Junk ... hey. What's this?" Sakura asked herself as she opened a pretty white envelope. She pulled out the lacy designed sheet of paper and read aloud. Tomoyo plopped down onto the couch across from her to hear.
"Sakura Kinomoto and Tomoyo Daidouji are invited to the engagement party for Hiromi Hoshizawa and ... Meiling Li." Sakura spoke as she stopped. She looked at Tomoyo for two seconds.
"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!" They both squealed. Their old time childhood friend is engaged! Sakura smiled as she continued to silently read the invitation.
"Hey Tomoyo-chan."
"Hai (yes)?"
"We're going to Hong Kong!" Sakura shouted as she pulled two plane tickets from the envelope.
"We could've paid by ourselves." Tomoyo frowned.
"We'll just pay her back when we see her!" Sakura spoke gleefully. Tomoyo smiled.
"You're right Sakura-chan."
"I'm calling her right now." Sakura remarked as she rushed up to the phone and dialed.
"Hello?"
"Is Meiling Li there?"
"This is she."
"Remember me?"
"How could I forget you Sakura-chan?" Meiling replied.
"You make it sound like it's impossible to forgot." Sakura spoke laughing. Meiling smiled. It was so great to hear her old friend again.
"That's because it is."
"So ... what's up? Besides the engagement that is." Sakura asked.
"The hassle it took to find you two." Both girls started to laugh.
"I'm glad you did though. Tomoyo and I are going to be on that plane to Hong Kong!" Sakura spoke cheerfully.
"I'm glad. I can't imagine if you guys couldn't. After all, I can't have a wedding without the bridesmaids" Meiling hinted. Sakura started to squeal.
"OH MY GOD?!?!?!? HONTO NE (Really)?!?!?!" Sakura asked. Meiling giggled at her friend's enthusiasm.
"Remember that promise we made as little kids? The one where whenever one of us got married, the other two would be the bridesmaids? Well, I'm keeping it!" Meiling replied proudly. Sakura smiled. It was just like Meiling to remember an old promise but never failing in keeping it.
"Arigatou Meiling-chan. I'll give the phone to Tomoyo-chan now." Sakura spoke as she handed her best friend the telephone. Sakura smiled. She was finally going to meet her other best friend after all this time. Sakura covered her ears as she heard a high-pitched squeal emitted from Tomoyo's mouth.
"I'M MAKING THAT WEDDING DRESS MEILING LI!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Tomoyo shouted over the phone. Sakura laughed. This was bound to happen.
"You're going to break Meiling-chan's ear drums. Take it easy Tomoyo-chan." Sakura spoke as Tomoyo took in a deep breath.
"Gomen (Sorry)." Tomoyo spoke over the phone. Sakura stifled her giggles. She could imagine her Chinese friend screaming about how incredibly loud Tomoyo's voice was. To finally talk to Meiling again reminded Sakura of how she had always wondered how Meiling had been.
Meiling went to the same elementary school as them. The three of them seemed inseparable. There was never a time when you saw only one, or two of them travel together. It was always three until ... Meiling had to leave. Sakura's emerald eyes sadden as she remembered that painful memory.
~Flashback~
"Meiling-chan! Tomoyo-chan!" A hyper 5th grader yelled as she showed into view.
"Late again as usual, eh Sakura-chan?" Meiling commented. Sakura inhaled as she leaned on her friend.
"Hoe... Onii-chan was meaner than usual. He splashed cold water on me!" Sakura complained as Meiling and Tomoyo laughed. Sakura pouted.
"Some friends you guys are!" Sakura exclaimed. Their laughter died down.
"Gomen Sakura-chan. We didn't mean to. It's just ... your onii-chan has gone so far to wake you up. Remember that time he put a megaphone to your ear and shouted? God ... I remember how you couldn't hear ANYTHING for DAYS after that." Meiling spoke up. Sakura laughed. Back then, it wasn't nothing close to funny ... now, she could just laugh it off.
"What Meiling-chan's ending point is ... is that, you'll get over this and that it'll just be one of those things in the future that we'll all laugh at ... together." Tomoyo concluded. Meiling's face darkened hearing the words future and together. But she covered it up. She'll tell them later ... after school.
~~~
"That math test was SOOO hard!!!!!!" Sakura complained. Tomoyo laughed. Meiling tried her best to smile and laugh, but couldn't. She couldn't keep concealing her sorrow. Meiling collapsed onto the concrete sidewalk and started to cry. Sakura and Tomoyo were both startled by the sudden action but knew something was wrong since they saw each other this morning.
"Meiling-chan? Daijoubu desu ka (are you okay)?" Tomoyo's soothing voice asked.
"Meiling-chan? Is something wrong? Tell us." Sakura spoke, her brilliantly glowing eyes dimming with concern. Meiling's cries changed into small sobs. She slowly inhaled and then exhaled.
"I'm moving." Meiling whispered.
"NANI!?!?!?!?" Sakura shouted. Tomoyo's hands flew to her mouth in shock. This couldn't be happening. Nothing was supposed to split them apart. They were best friends, together. Silence enveloped the three. The wind could be heard as Sakura finally opened her mouth.
"When are you leaving?" Sakura asked. Meiling wiped her tears.
"Three days from today." Meiling replied as more tears erupted from her eyes. Sakura released the liquid stored in her eyes. Tomoyo held both of her friends in an embrace while sniffling. This wasn't fair to them at all ....
~~~
"MEILING-CHAN!!!!!!!!!" Sakura shouted as Meiling turned around. Tomoyo and Sakura were sprinting towards Meiling, pushing people with luggage while doing so. Sakura jumped onto Meiling and held her tight, sobbing.
"You can't leave." Sakura whispered over and over again.
"I don't want to, but I have to." Meiling replied as her tears from days before returned.
"We know." Tomoyo replied as all three girls continued to cry.
"Flight 495 to Hong Kong." A voice rang through the airport. All the girls stayed still as the announcement came on. It was too soon. They all wiped their tears as they regained their composure and said their last goodbyes.
"I'll miss you." Tomoyo spoke as she gave Meiling a hug. Meiling sadly smiled as she returned the hug. Meiling then turned to the sad Sakura.
"You aren't one of my best friends." Meiling spoke. Sakura stood in shock. Because Meiling was moving, was she going to cut off all contact? Sakura's eyes started to well up with tears.
"My best friend smiles. Show me a smile." Meiling continued. Sakura lifted her head up and wiped her tears and as best she could, she gave Meiling a genuine smile. Meiling couldn't help but smile.
"There you are. I knew you were hiding." Meiling whispered as she gave Sakura a final hug. Sakura cried. How could she have thought of such a thing? Meiling would never do anything like that.
"Last call for Flight 495 to Hong Kong." The voice rang again. Meiling sadly smiled as she picked up her luggage and headed towards the plane.
~End of Flashback~
And that was the last time they saw her. Even thinking of it brought at least a tear to Sakura's eyes.
"Love ya!" Tomoyo replied as she hung up on the phone. She took one look at Sakura and knew what was going on.
"Thinking about that day again, huh?"
"Hai (yes)."
"Don't worry. You'll make new memories in about ... a week? Wow, only a week." Tomoyo spoke. Sakura smiled.
"Yea ... Finally."
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"HEY SYAORAN, ERIOL! YOU GUYS GOT MAIL!!!!" Takashi shouted. Syaoran and Eriol both headed over to Yamazaki and got the letters ... or letter.
"Hey, it's addressed to both of us." Eriol spoke. Syaoran ignored him as he opened the letter.
"Syaoran Li and Eriol Hiiragizawa are invited to the engagement party of Hiromi Hoshizawa and Meiling Li ... WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!" Syaoran shouted. His cousin ... is engaged????? Syaoran winced as he remember saying the word ... engagement ... Aya. Syaoran felt like smacking himself in the head while Eriol smirked.
"I knew he would propose sooner of later." Eriol spoke as he pulled out two airplane tickets from the bottom of the envelope.
"Looks like we're going to Hong Kong." Eriol said. Syaoran's face filled with expression such as pain and agony. He then looked on the bright side, at least he could go and visit Aya again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
hehehe ... yup! Mai note! Meaning ... that was the end! Mwhahaha ... yea. What do ya think? So yea... think I'll update every.... two months from now on? Lol ... very big possibility ... being a freshman is hard ... well... a freshman taking a sport ... and by the next two chapters ... I'll have a scene using the sport I'm taking right now ... so you'll all know!
I'll try my best for 4 weeks ... 3 weeks ... If I use two snowdays ... and yea... Arigatou to all you reviewers~! Ja ne!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sakura looked groggily at her math papers. Having to make up 4 months of classes is torture. Sakura groaned as she looked at the math equations that she could've easily misunderstood for Greek. Sakura wondered why math had to be such an important part of a person's knowledge.
Sakura held the packet in her hand. It was about 10 pages thick. It was only one of the many she had to do. Math was hard enough for her before her 4-month absence. Now, she was doomed. There was no other way to put it. Sakura left that aside and started on her history.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sakura-chan?" A voice spoke softly. Sakura forcefully opened her eyelids to see her best friend's hand waving in front of her face. Behind Tomoyo, the rays of sunlight shone in the room.
"I see you Tomoyo-chan." Sakura replied. Tomoyo grinned.
"Good. I was almost about to call your onii-chan (older brother) as ask for some tips on how to wake you up." Tomoyo replied. Sakura groaned as she looked around at her surroundings. She wasn't in bed. Her arms were crossed in front of her, leaning on the desk. Under her arms were the a few uncompleted math packets. Sakura sighed and wished she'd never been put in the hospital in the first place.
Thinking of the hospital, Sakura placed her hand over her chest. She could feel the heart pumping blood to her body, not her heart, someone else's. Sakura sadly smiled and silently thanked whomever it was that let her survive in this world.
"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo said as she waved her hand over Sakura's face once more. Her best friend seemed to like to zone out today.
"Gomen (I'm sorry) Tomoyo-chan. I can't concentrate on anything." Sakura replied. Tomoyo's face filled with concern.
"Do you think it's a side effect of the surgery?" Tomoyo asked. The last thing needed were complications after her surgery.
"Iie (no). Just plain old stress." Sakura replied rubbing her temples.
"It's a good thing you have afternoon classes today." Tomoyo remarked. Sakura nodded.
"Yea. Thank kami-sama (God)." Sakura responded as she smiled at her best friend. Tomoyo smiled back as she headed towards the kitchen.
"What do you want for breakfast?" Tomoyo called out. Sakura sat at her desk and pondered on it for a second and then quickly replied.
"Food."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sakura exited her last class of the day to see Syaoran waiting for her on one of the benches. She smiled. He kept his promise. She walked over to him.
"Is this seat taken?" Sakura asked. Syaoran turned to see Sakura's face beaming down on him.
"Nope. Go right on ahead." He replied as she sat down next to him. The sounds of teenagers laughing and giggling were heard but not a sound was made near them. Sakura sighed at the silence. He seemed to be more distant today. Something must be troubling him. Sakura thought about it for a while and then pulled out one of her math packets. Today, she received a couple more.
Syaoran looked over to see a packet of math problems sitting on Sakura's lap. She seemed to not be quite fond of the subject.
"Troubles in math?" Syaoran questioned.
"Hoe ... I hate this subject." Sakura replied.
"Wow, this is a lot of work for a day." Syaoran spoke glancing at the packet's size.
"I was in the hospital for weeks. This is just one of the packets of a week that I missed." Sakura responded. Syaoran then remembered about her being hospitalized.
"How long were you there for?" Syaoran asked.
"4 long and torturous months." Sakura replied groaning.
"That bad?"
"I couldn't stand being in the hospital. Not like I didn't like anyone there or anything. I just need to roam free in-"
"The wild?" Syaoran teased. Sakura pouted and attempted a glare at Syaoran.
"Iie (no). I mean go to occasional places like the park, do cartwheels on the balance beam and stuff, not stay in a stuffy hospital not being able to do anything." Sakura spoke.
"Gymnast?"
"I guess you could say that." Sakura replied.
"Why were you in the hospital?" Syaoran asked.
"Long story." Sakura replied as she got up and held her hand out to Syaoran.
"Come on Li-kun. I have a LOT of work to make up and sitting here won't help anything." Sakura spoke as Syaoran placed his hand on hers and got up. It almost seemed as if she was trying to avoid the reason she was in the hospital but he ignored it.
"So, when am I ever going to hear this long story?" Syaoran asked. Sakura looked at him and smiled.
"As soon as I make up for all the work that was caused by the long story." Sakura replied walking slower. Her backpack was heavy and it caused for her to drag behind. Syaoran noticed this and quickly slipped the backpack off of her small petite body and placed it on his own back.
"I can't let you hold my bag!" Sakura protested as she reached for it. Syaoran evaded her attempt and started to run down the path. Looking behind him, he saw Sakura was gone and he stopped. His amber eyes searched for a spec of emerald, but it was not to be seen. Syaoran sighed and turned face front again to see Sakura's smiling face. Syaoran jumped back in surprise placing his hand over his throbbing chest.
"Did I scare you?" Sakura asked innocently placing her hand on Syaoran's back.
"You surprised me." Syaoran replied as he turned around so that he was face to face with Sakura. Her emerald eyes seemed to have a spell of their own, drawing Syaoran closer to her. Sakura looked at her watch seeing how late it was and lightly smacked Syaoran on the head.
"Do you NOT remember the work that I have to make up?!?!?!" Sakura shouted as she started to pull on her backpack that was on Syaoran's back.
"Gomen (I'm sorry). But I'm holding the backpack." Syaoran replied as they started to head towards Sakura's dorm room, again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A week passed by and Sakura and Syaoran became closer friends. There was never a time where Sakura couldn't get him to laugh. Syaoran's heart seemed to mend a little each time he met her.
Each and every day proved that Syaoran never broke his promise. He was always there under the petal less Sakura tree waiting for her (winter). Sakura hurried out of her class and went there. Strangely, Syaoran wasn't there. Her thought concentration broke as the tune 'Catch You, Catch Me' played. Sakura took her cell out of her phone and picked it up.
"Moshi moshi (how Japanese people say hi on the phone)."
"Sakura-san?" A male voice spoke.
"Eriol-kun?" Sakura asked.
"Hai (yes)."
"Oh ... why are you calling me?" Sakura questioned.
"You might already know that Syaoran's not there at your university. I'm sorry to say but ..."
"But what?" Sakura asked. Did something happen to him? Did he go somewhere?
"Syaoran's sick right now, which is a huge rarity for Syaoran but I just want you do know that he can't be there ..." Eriol hesitated. Sakura noticed this.
"Is something else wrong?"
"Ano (um) ... Could you come here? For the past half hour, I've been keeping Syaoran away from the door."
"Does Syaoran have somewhere he needs to get to?" Sakura asked. Eriol wanted to smack himself in the head right then and there. Sometimes she was a little too dense.
"Sakura-san, Syaoran's trying to get to you. He wants to keep his promise. This whole Li family pride thing-" Eriol spoke on but Sakura only heard the first 2 sentences. Even though he was sick, he wanted to keep his promise to her. Sakura felt extremely touched and interrupted Eriol's self talk.
"I'll be there Eriol-kun." Sakura spoke quickly as she already started to dash towards the dorm.
"Arigatou (thanks) Sakura-san." Eriol responded as the he heard the dial tone knowing that Sakura was on her way. Eriol walked over to the bed. There lay his best friend, weak and tired. Eriol silently chuckled. The great Li Syaoran had to get sick sometime though it probably wouldn't have happened if Syaoran hadn't lost the bet that made him stand on the roof for a couple of hours in the snow last night...
Eriol chuckled and then thought and wondered how him and Yamazaki got Syaoran to comply...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sakura slightly shivered as she opened the door to the dormitory. She started to walk towards the stair well. Suddenly, someone blocked her way. Sakura groaned. She really needed to get to Syaoran and having Kyoji in her way wasn't going to help at all.
"Well well. What do we have here? Sakura Kinomoto ... had to see me again?" Kyoji spoke. Sakura was absolutely couldn't believe how big his ego could get.
"I'm here to see a friend of mine, Tatsuya-san." Sakura said as she tired to push her way through however, she was prevented from doing so.
"This is the guy's dorm building. Going to see that asshole?" Kyoji asked referring to Syaoran. Sakura's anger started to grow but she pushed it aside the best she could.
"You're the only asshole I see." Sakura replied. Kyoji smirked.
"Well obviously your pretty eyes can't see properly anymore." Kyoji spoke as he stepped closer to Sakura. Sakura backed up until she felt the cold wall on her back. Kyoji took this opportunity and immediately seized her hands, immobilizing them.
"Her eyes work just fine." A voice spoke. Kyoji turned around to see Li Syaoran placing his hand on the wall while walking towards them. Sakura's eyes started to water. He shouldn't be out of bed when he was sick, especially because of her. Kyoji laughed.
"Limping already? I thought that didn't happen till you were about 50." Kyoji spoke. Sakura tried to take this opportunity to pull away but his grip was as strong as ever. Kyoji turned his head so he was face to face with Sakura.
"Tried to escape again? Give up. You're mine." Kyoji remarked as he grasped Sakura's wrist tightly. She cried out in agony slowly kneeling to the floor. Syaoran charged as fast as he could in his state and punched Kyoji, right in his face. Kyoji fell and Sakura was released. Sakura started to sob as Syaoran knelt down next to her and held her.
"Don't worry." Syaoran softly whispered as Sakura calmed down. Sakura looked over at the pale Syaoran and placed a hand on his forehead. He was burning up! Sakura tried her best to lift Syaoran up, but it wouldn't work. Sakura slumped to the floor and started to sob again. He had to get medical attention fast. He saved her from Tatsuya and she couldn't help him.
"Sakura-san!" Eriol shouted. Sakura lifted her head up to see Eriol running down the hall.
"Eriol-kun!" Sakura yelled. Eriol knelt next to Sakura and noticed Kyoji's unconscious body lying on the ground. Then he shifted his attention to Syaoran who was breathing heavily.
"We have to get him somewhere Eriol-kun!" Sakura pleaded. Eriol nodded as he placed Syaoran on his back.
"He'll be fine in my dorm room. I'm studying to be a doctor, remember?" Eriol smiled as he headed up the steps while Sakura made sure that Syaoran wasn't going to fall off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the past 9 hours, Sakura was at Syaoran's bedside waiting for his fever to go down. Eriol came in to check up on him once in a while, but Sakura wouldn't budge. She told him that she would stay as long as she needed to.
Sakura smiled as she changed the cold cloth. His fever slowly was going down, about a degree every 3 hours.
"Aya." Syaoran moaned. Sakura sat there in curiosity. Every few minutes Syaoran would say the name Aya. Who was she? How important was she to him? Questions raced on inside her head but she pushed it aside and focused on one main objective, to make Syaoran feel better.
"Why did you have to leave me, Aya?" Syaoran softly spoke in ragged breaths. Sakura noticed a tiny teardrop fall down his face.
"Aya is watching over you." Sakura whispered back stroking his hair away from his face. Syaoran's breaths became more normal. Sakura sighed with relief as a knock was heard.
"Come in." Sakura replied as two silhouettes entered.
"How's he doing?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura turned to see her best friend.
"Tomoyo-chan! What are you doing here?" Sakura asked.
"I could ask you the same exact question. What happened?" Tomoyo replied.
"Long story. Don't feel like talking about it right now." Sakura spoke keeping her eyes on Syaoran. Tomoyo noticed her best friend's sadness and immediately turned to Eriol for guidance.
"How is he, Eriol?" Tomoyo asked.
"He's doing better. He should be perfectly fine in a couple of days." Eriol whispered softly. Tomoyo sighed. He needed to get better faster than that.
"Aya." Syaoran spoke again. Eriol looked at his cousin sadly. It's still hurting him. Inside and out. Syaoran had told him earlier about his dream with Aya. Syaoran felt insecure about the dream, still denying that it was real. Eriol felt differently about the situation. He felt that it was Aya telling Syaoran. Eriol knew that he has to try his best to convince Syaoran, or just look for Syaoran's soul mate.
"Eriol-kun, who's Aya?" Sakura asked.
"Syaoran's fiancée." Eriol replied. Sakura look surprised. He had a fiancée and she didn't know? Sakura silently squealed with excitement. She couldn't wait to get to know her. For Li-kun to go and propose to a girl, she must be really special! But one thing nagged at her brain ... why was Syaoran calling out for her, like ... she was unreachable?
"So, when can I meet her?" Sakura asked.
"Let me rephrase my boyfriend's statement. Aya is Syaoran's recently deceased fiancée." Tomoyo spoke softly. Sakura's eyes widened. No wonder he called out for her, she was with her mother in the sky.
"I guess I wasn't lying when I told him that she was watching over him." Sakura spoke in an almost inaudible whisper. A teardrop fell from her face. To lose family, someone you've been taught to love unconditionally just wasn't the same as losing someone that you learned to love, all on your own.
Sakura quickly wiped her tear. It sounded like a love story she would watch on television, except, it was real life. Syaoran was suffering ... the pain of love. It brings many joys ... but sorrow comes as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Syaoran's eyes opened to be blinded by the rays of the sun. Syaoran turned his head to see Sakura's arms crossed on the bed, knees on the ground, sleeping peacefully. He slowly sat up and slid out of the bed, from the opposite side of Sakura. Walking to the door, he opened it to meet face to face with Eriol. He immediately jumped back in surprise.
"What the hell?" Syaoran spoke as he placed his hand over his rapid beating chest. Eriol smiled apologetically.
"Sorry man. Didn't know you were coming." Eriol replied. His gaze then focused on the sleeping Sakura.
"She missed her classes yesterday and is missing her morning classes right now because of you, you know." Eriol spoke as he stared at his watch.
"What do you mean?"
"Remember anything from the last time you were fully awake?" Eriol asked. Syaoran sat in thought and then remembered when he protected Sakura from Kyoji and then collapsed onto the ground.
"That was two days ago?" Syaoran questioned. It seemed like it had happened only a few hours ago.
"Hai. Well, you had a really high fever, which me and Yamazaki are very sorry for, and Sakura refused to leave your side saying she wouldn't budge until you got better, so she could thank you properly." Eriol answered looking over to Sakura. Sakura was still in the position Syaoran found her in, sleeping soundlessly. Syaoran glared at Eriol.
"This is all your fault you know." Syaoran spoke harshly. Eriol, being very used to this behavior of his, wasn't intimidated at all.
"It was Yamazaki who chose your punishment, not me. I'm still surprised that you stood out there like you were told to." Eriol replied calmly.
"So am I." Syaoran responded. His head hurt, a lot.
"She really should be getting to her classes." Eriol remarked checking his watch again.
"Just let her rest." Syaoran replied as he walked over to Sakura. He gently shook her but she didn't even stir. Sighing, he scooped her up in his arms, finding she's incredibly light, and placed her on his bed. Placing the covers over her body, he turned around and headed towards the kitchen in search of food.
Eriol, who had seen the whole thing, smirked. This was the beginning of love ... between his heartbroken cousin and his girlfriend's best friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"HOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Sakura screamed as she stared at the alarm clock. It said 7 o'clock. She jumped out of bed and hurried over at the closet and then seemed to realize that that wasn't her alarm clock, or her bed, and the clothes in the closet weren't hers.
"You have a powerful scream, you know." Syaoran spoke as he covered his ears. Sakura's eyes widened as she ran up to Syaoran, holding him in an embrace. Syaoran smiled as he placed his arms around her back. Sakura looked up to him and pouted, breaking their hug.
"You had me worried sick!" Sakura scolded lightly. Syaoran tried his best to stop laughing but couldn't help it. Sakura smiled. He was his regular self again.
"HOE! I'm really late for class!" Sakura yelled as she tried to bolt out the door but Syaoran's arms prevented her from doing so. Sakura looked up at Syaoran.
"I really need to get to school." Sakura stated. Syaoran chuckled.
"Look out the window Sakura." He responded. Sakura turned her view to Syaoran's window to realize that it was 7 at night, not morning. Sakura looked at Syaoran who was laughing.
"It's a mistake anyone could have made." Sakura claimed crossing her arms across her chest. Syaoran began to laugh once more.
"Only you, Sakura, only you." Syaoran remarked earning himself a playful slap on his shoulder. Syaoran rubbed the injured area slowly pretending to be in pain. Sakura believe him to really be in pain and had a concerned look on her face.
"Are you okay? I didn't think I hit that hard." Sakura spoke as she placed her small hand over his shoulder. Syaoran slowly took his hand and wrapped it around her wrist, putting it on her lap.
"I was just kidding. It doesn't hurt." Syaoran responded smiling. Sakura made a lopsided frown.
"Darn. I thought I was getting stronger." She remarked. Syaoran laughed. Being around Sakura seemed to make all of his problems ... disappear.
"Well, I got to go! Still have to finish those awful math packets!" Sakura spoke as she headed out the door. Syaoran watched Sakura's figure disappear from his sight ... and then seeing her face pop back through his doorway.
"Oh yeah. Before I forget. Arigatou for two days ago!" Sakura remarked bowing to Syaoran. Syaoran smiled.
"No problem." He replied as Sakura plastered a smile on her face and left the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey Syaoran! Telephone!" Eriol shouted. Syaoran picked up the phone in his room (Eriol's former room ... Eriol and Yamazaki share a room now) wondering who would know that he was with Eriol.
"Hello?"
"Xiao Lang!" He heard 4 squealing female voices. Syaoran sighed automatically knowing exactly who called him.
"Your husbands still feeding you sugar?" Syaoran asked. He quickly pulled the phone away from his ear and could still clearly hear the protests being yelled over the phone.
"It was a joke!" Syaoran shouted into the phone. The four protesters started to lower their voices.
"So, who's talking to me first?" Syaoran asked. It always seemed that whenever his sisters called him, they were all on the phone rather than just one of them call him at a time.
"I am." Fuutie spoke.
"Fuutie .. is that you?" Syaoran asked. His older sister's voice seemed to be more hoarse.
"It is."
"Are you feeling okay?" Syaoran asked with concern.
"I'm fine. Your employees however seem to take me as a co-worker rather than the substitute CEO. Let's just say, I've fired almost a quarter of your employees." Fuutie replied. Syaoran made a mental reminder to himself to never let Fuutie be his substitute.
"You sound a lot more energetic from that sulky mood you were in over here. What caused the sudden change?" Fuutie asked. Syaoran couldn't reply. Honestly, he never realized his mood change. So what caused it wouldn't be a question he could answer.
"I really honestly don't know." Syaoran replied. As much as Fuutie wanted to say, 'It's a girl, isn't it', it still probably wasn't the best of times to bring up such a topic.
"Tell me when you do know, okay?" Fuutie requested.
"If I ever know." Syaoran replied.
"You will. Well, I got to go! The rest still want to talk to you!" Fuutie spoke cheerfully as she hung up and then Feimei started to talk to her little brother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A month has passed since his fiancée's death ... a whole month. Syaoran felt more moody then on other days. He already told Sakura in advance that he wouldn't be able to pick her up today. It was just one of those days ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sakura frowned. Li-kun told her that he couldn't pick her up today. He didn't tell her why though. Sakura sat on the bench that Syaoran would usually sit on. She put her elbow on her knee and rested her chin on her hand. What could cause Li-kun to not want to come? ... was it her? ... or maybe ... Aya?
"Sakura-chan!" Sakura snapped out of her thoughts to see her best friend heading in her direction.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura shouted as she waved at the nearing figure.
"Sakura-chan, do you have any more packets to make up?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura groaned.
"Don't remind me." Sakura spoke. Tomoyo placed a finger to her lips.
"Let's go shopping!" Tomoyo remarked gleefully.
"Hoe? But I have to-"
"You can do it some other time! The expression on your face is all dull ... and the cure for your dullness is shopping!" Tomoyo replied. Sakura smiled. She hadn't gone shopping in a while.
"Sure." Sakura responded as they headed towards Tomoyo's car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sakura-chan! YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS ON!!!!!!" Tomoyo squealed as she added the dress to the outfits piling up on her arm for Sakura to try on.
"Hoe ... Tomoyo-chan ... Isn't this a bit much?" Sakura asked. Tomoyo had already handed Sakura hundreds of outfits in the other stores ... her being the victim of Tomoyo's shopping.
"Nonsense! Come on! Try it on!" Tomoyo said as she pushed Sakura into the changing room. Sakura sighed as she began to change.
"Are you done yet?" Tomoyo asked impatiently. Sakura opened the door to the changing room and walked out.
"KAWAII!!!!!!!!!!!" Tomoyo squealed. The dress was a light pink strapless with little cherry blossom designs running down it. The people around the dressing rooms looked at Tomoyo strangely as Sakura just rolled her eyes. This was a normal shopping trip with her best friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sakura collapsed onto the couch. Finally, back home. She thought she would've never left the mall. Six straight hours of changing clothes. Sakura looked at the mail she received and flipped through it.
"Junk ... Junk ... Junk ... hey. What's this?" Sakura asked herself as she opened a pretty white envelope. She pulled out the lacy designed sheet of paper and read aloud. Tomoyo plopped down onto the couch across from her to hear.
"Sakura Kinomoto and Tomoyo Daidouji are invited to the engagement party for Hiromi Hoshizawa and ... Meiling Li." Sakura spoke as she stopped. She looked at Tomoyo for two seconds.
"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!" They both squealed. Their old time childhood friend is engaged! Sakura smiled as she continued to silently read the invitation.
"Hey Tomoyo-chan."
"Hai (yes)?"
"We're going to Hong Kong!" Sakura shouted as she pulled two plane tickets from the envelope.
"We could've paid by ourselves." Tomoyo frowned.
"We'll just pay her back when we see her!" Sakura spoke gleefully. Tomoyo smiled.
"You're right Sakura-chan."
"I'm calling her right now." Sakura remarked as she rushed up to the phone and dialed.
"Hello?"
"Is Meiling Li there?"
"This is she."
"Remember me?"
"How could I forget you Sakura-chan?" Meiling replied.
"You make it sound like it's impossible to forgot." Sakura spoke laughing. Meiling smiled. It was so great to hear her old friend again.
"That's because it is."
"So ... what's up? Besides the engagement that is." Sakura asked.
"The hassle it took to find you two." Both girls started to laugh.
"I'm glad you did though. Tomoyo and I are going to be on that plane to Hong Kong!" Sakura spoke cheerfully.
"I'm glad. I can't imagine if you guys couldn't. After all, I can't have a wedding without the bridesmaids" Meiling hinted. Sakura started to squeal.
"OH MY GOD?!?!?!? HONTO NE (Really)?!?!?!" Sakura asked. Meiling giggled at her friend's enthusiasm.
"Remember that promise we made as little kids? The one where whenever one of us got married, the other two would be the bridesmaids? Well, I'm keeping it!" Meiling replied proudly. Sakura smiled. It was just like Meiling to remember an old promise but never failing in keeping it.
"Arigatou Meiling-chan. I'll give the phone to Tomoyo-chan now." Sakura spoke as she handed her best friend the telephone. Sakura smiled. She was finally going to meet her other best friend after all this time. Sakura covered her ears as she heard a high-pitched squeal emitted from Tomoyo's mouth.
"I'M MAKING THAT WEDDING DRESS MEILING LI!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Tomoyo shouted over the phone. Sakura laughed. This was bound to happen.
"You're going to break Meiling-chan's ear drums. Take it easy Tomoyo-chan." Sakura spoke as Tomoyo took in a deep breath.
"Gomen (Sorry)." Tomoyo spoke over the phone. Sakura stifled her giggles. She could imagine her Chinese friend screaming about how incredibly loud Tomoyo's voice was. To finally talk to Meiling again reminded Sakura of how she had always wondered how Meiling had been.
Meiling went to the same elementary school as them. The three of them seemed inseparable. There was never a time when you saw only one, or two of them travel together. It was always three until ... Meiling had to leave. Sakura's emerald eyes sadden as she remembered that painful memory.
~Flashback~
"Meiling-chan! Tomoyo-chan!" A hyper 5th grader yelled as she showed into view.
"Late again as usual, eh Sakura-chan?" Meiling commented. Sakura inhaled as she leaned on her friend.
"Hoe... Onii-chan was meaner than usual. He splashed cold water on me!" Sakura complained as Meiling and Tomoyo laughed. Sakura pouted.
"Some friends you guys are!" Sakura exclaimed. Their laughter died down.
"Gomen Sakura-chan. We didn't mean to. It's just ... your onii-chan has gone so far to wake you up. Remember that time he put a megaphone to your ear and shouted? God ... I remember how you couldn't hear ANYTHING for DAYS after that." Meiling spoke up. Sakura laughed. Back then, it wasn't nothing close to funny ... now, she could just laugh it off.
"What Meiling-chan's ending point is ... is that, you'll get over this and that it'll just be one of those things in the future that we'll all laugh at ... together." Tomoyo concluded. Meiling's face darkened hearing the words future and together. But she covered it up. She'll tell them later ... after school.
~~~
"That math test was SOOO hard!!!!!!" Sakura complained. Tomoyo laughed. Meiling tried her best to smile and laugh, but couldn't. She couldn't keep concealing her sorrow. Meiling collapsed onto the concrete sidewalk and started to cry. Sakura and Tomoyo were both startled by the sudden action but knew something was wrong since they saw each other this morning.
"Meiling-chan? Daijoubu desu ka (are you okay)?" Tomoyo's soothing voice asked.
"Meiling-chan? Is something wrong? Tell us." Sakura spoke, her brilliantly glowing eyes dimming with concern. Meiling's cries changed into small sobs. She slowly inhaled and then exhaled.
"I'm moving." Meiling whispered.
"NANI!?!?!?!?" Sakura shouted. Tomoyo's hands flew to her mouth in shock. This couldn't be happening. Nothing was supposed to split them apart. They were best friends, together. Silence enveloped the three. The wind could be heard as Sakura finally opened her mouth.
"When are you leaving?" Sakura asked. Meiling wiped her tears.
"Three days from today." Meiling replied as more tears erupted from her eyes. Sakura released the liquid stored in her eyes. Tomoyo held both of her friends in an embrace while sniffling. This wasn't fair to them at all ....
~~~
"MEILING-CHAN!!!!!!!!!" Sakura shouted as Meiling turned around. Tomoyo and Sakura were sprinting towards Meiling, pushing people with luggage while doing so. Sakura jumped onto Meiling and held her tight, sobbing.
"You can't leave." Sakura whispered over and over again.
"I don't want to, but I have to." Meiling replied as her tears from days before returned.
"We know." Tomoyo replied as all three girls continued to cry.
"Flight 495 to Hong Kong." A voice rang through the airport. All the girls stayed still as the announcement came on. It was too soon. They all wiped their tears as they regained their composure and said their last goodbyes.
"I'll miss you." Tomoyo spoke as she gave Meiling a hug. Meiling sadly smiled as she returned the hug. Meiling then turned to the sad Sakura.
"You aren't one of my best friends." Meiling spoke. Sakura stood in shock. Because Meiling was moving, was she going to cut off all contact? Sakura's eyes started to well up with tears.
"My best friend smiles. Show me a smile." Meiling continued. Sakura lifted her head up and wiped her tears and as best she could, she gave Meiling a genuine smile. Meiling couldn't help but smile.
"There you are. I knew you were hiding." Meiling whispered as she gave Sakura a final hug. Sakura cried. How could she have thought of such a thing? Meiling would never do anything like that.
"Last call for Flight 495 to Hong Kong." The voice rang again. Meiling sadly smiled as she picked up her luggage and headed towards the plane.
~End of Flashback~
And that was the last time they saw her. Even thinking of it brought at least a tear to Sakura's eyes.
"Love ya!" Tomoyo replied as she hung up on the phone. She took one look at Sakura and knew what was going on.
"Thinking about that day again, huh?"
"Hai (yes)."
"Don't worry. You'll make new memories in about ... a week? Wow, only a week." Tomoyo spoke. Sakura smiled.
"Yea ... Finally."
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"HEY SYAORAN, ERIOL! YOU GUYS GOT MAIL!!!!" Takashi shouted. Syaoran and Eriol both headed over to Yamazaki and got the letters ... or letter.
"Hey, it's addressed to both of us." Eriol spoke. Syaoran ignored him as he opened the letter.
"Syaoran Li and Eriol Hiiragizawa are invited to the engagement party of Hiromi Hoshizawa and Meiling Li ... WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!" Syaoran shouted. His cousin ... is engaged????? Syaoran winced as he remember saying the word ... engagement ... Aya. Syaoran felt like smacking himself in the head while Eriol smirked.
"I knew he would propose sooner of later." Eriol spoke as he pulled out two airplane tickets from the bottom of the envelope.
"Looks like we're going to Hong Kong." Eriol said. Syaoran's face filled with expression such as pain and agony. He then looked on the bright side, at least he could go and visit Aya again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
hehehe ... yup! Mai note! Meaning ... that was the end! Mwhahaha ... yea. What do ya think? So yea... think I'll update every.... two months from now on? Lol ... very big possibility ... being a freshman is hard ... well... a freshman taking a sport ... and by the next two chapters ... I'll have a scene using the sport I'm taking right now ... so you'll all know!
I'll try my best for 4 weeks ... 3 weeks ... If I use two snowdays ... and yea... Arigatou to all you reviewers~! Ja ne!
